183 Regular meeting of the City Council. Chester Place July 06, 1885 Hon G. M. Crocker, President of the Council presiding Present alderman Hancock, Wells, Campbell, Woods, Warren, Crooker, Odell, Hill, Plath, Couch and Brummitt 11 Absent Alderman Schneider, Metz, Pillows, Schuler, Underhill, Driskell, Carrington, Holmans, and Ervin. 9. On motion of Alderman Brush a call of the council was ordered and the marshal sent after the absentees Aldermen Pillow Metz and schneider came in Call of the council suspended. Minutes of May 2d. June 1st June 15th June 29th 1880 adopted. Neil McCarhin Mrs Bacon Alderman Odell presented a petition from Neil McCarhin Mrs Bacon in regard to officer morris neglecting his primicies Referred to the police committee Fire Com on petition of J. N. Cooper Alderman Brush for the Fire committee submitted the following report on the petition of Burgff & Cooke J. N. Cooper. Your committee would recommend that the City purchase and take on trial for the use of the Fire department ten dozen of the Harden's improved grenade fire extinguisher W. A. Brush The motion to lay the report on the table was Finance Com on resolution to increase police force The finance committee submitted the following report on a Resolution increasing the Police force to 25 men Report was adopted To the Hon, Mayor, and City Council. --- Page break --- 184 July 6th 1885 Your committee to whom was referred the within resolution, beg leave to say that while they are in favor of the increase of the police force, they cannot recommend the passage of this resolution because of the present financial condition of the city. Respectfully, J. W. Odell Lewis Hancock W. Maas. Alderman Flatt moved that the mayor employ an accountant to examine the books of the City Marshals, Motion lost. Brush on purchase of Riley tract of land. Alderman Brush submitted the following report on purchasing land for cemetery purposes Hon. J. W. Robertson, mayor, and members of the City Council. Gentlemen— Your committee appointed at the last regular meeting of the council, as per the following resolution, “Be it resolved, that Alder man Brush be appointed a committee of one to confer with Mr. Riley, or his agent, and to arrange a trade for the purchase of the land adjoining the Cemetery on the south, said trade to be reported to the council for its confirmation.” Would report that the same has had due consideration, as follows: Mr. Riley who owns the property lying south and adjacent to the present cemetery, will sell to the city 20 acres (a fraction more or less) for the sum of six hundred dollars per acre, making about $12000.00, for which he wants cash. In payment for which, your committee would say, that there is now in the city treasury, unappropriated $7000.00. There are also several appropriations such as market-house and cemetery fund amounting to about $2000, for which there is no immediate or special need, which gives the city the sum of about $9000 on hand. I am authorized by Mr. A. P. Wooldridge --- Page break --- 185 to say, that if the city will advance $6000 for the cemetery grounds now under consideration, he will immediately pay the balance of $6.000, upon the first of August, title of ground to rest in him as a trustee until the amount advanced the city is paid, either by sale of lots or through other channels, when the title reverts to the city. Your committee would further report that the expenses of fencing and "laying off" would not amount to exceed $300. Your committee has been informed by responsible parties that there are now from 30 to 50 citizens who are anxious to purchase lots upon the final establishing of a city cemetery, said lots, it is thought, will bring at auction sale from $75. to $150. per lot. Therefore, in view of the fact, that the land can be bought from the party owning same, and such moneys as the city does not possess, to pay cash down can be procured; and further, that the present cemetery is now full, and more ground must be secured; and that the present cemetery when located was sold in lots to the citizens, upon which they have buried their dead; said living citizens believing that at least during their lives that that ground would be sacred; and now, that the relations and friends of the living and the dead wish to secure lots within the same inclosure for a last resting place for themselves or their dead. Therefore, your committee would respectfully recommend that the Reily tract be purchased by the City for cemetery purposes. W. B. Brush The motion to lay the report on the table was lost. Report adopted by the following vote: YeasAldermen Schneider, Metz, Pillows, Hancock, Wells, Campbell, Haas, Warren, Crooker, Brush & Brennen, Nays-- Aldermen Odell, Shew, Plath --- Page break --- 186 July 6th 1885 Ordinance for fairyland Alderman Brush introduced an ordinance providing for the purchase of the Reiley tract of land, and appropriating the sum of $6,000 as a partial payment for the same The ordinance was read first time and then referred to the Finance committee. Marshal for June 1885 Marshal's report for June, 1885 Total Fines $1,129.05 Cash from fines $455.90 Work out " 213.70 Appealed " 285.50 Due by escapees 7.70 Released by Doctors order 9.70 Amount brought forward 135.55 Back fines worked out 39.45 Cash from back fines 11.00 Referred to the Police committee. Sexton for June 1885 City Sextons report for June 1885 shows total deaths 34, White 20; Colored 9; Mexican 5; Male 19; Female 15. Referred to the Cemetery committee. City Physician on vault systems The following report of the City Physician was read and referred to the Hospital committee and requested to give especial attention to that part of the report relating to privy vault system: To the Mayor, and Board of Aldermen, Since June 1st 19 persons were admitted in hospital 7 have died, 9 dismissed, and 16 remain in hospital July 1st, 1885. Of the 7 deaths, four of the patients were moribund and in a dying condition when received. More have are needed to properly care for the indigent sick of the city. I have therefore called especial attention to the unsanitary condition of the City, and recommended that the privy vault systems be abolished, or if retained, to have the vaults cemented, and thus prevent the whole soil of the city from becoming saturated with the fluid --- Page break --- 187 portions of human excrements, simply surface work is like cutting off the grass and leaving the roots, Abolish such a filthy and dangerous system and remove the seeds and germs of disease that are in the yards and premises of the people, and we may then hope to have a healthy city, and not until then. Respectfully submitted, W. J. Burt, City Physician. Treasurer for June Report of the City Treasurer for the month ending June 30, 1880. Balance on hand May 31, $29,689.91 Received from assessor & collector 12,594.90 42,284.81 Credits Paid warrants. $6643.10 Cash balance June 30. $30441.71 Interest fund in New York $5100.00 $42,284.81 Unappropriated balances $9596.10 Referred to the finance committee Resolution Policeman in charge of gang to keep Time book Alderman Thiel introduced the following resolution, which was adopted Be it Resolved by the City council, That the City Marshal be and is hereby instructed to require, and it is hereby made the duty of the Policeman in charge of the prisoners when at work, out-fines, to make a daily report signed by him, showing the name and Time of each prisoner who has worked under him. Such reports shall be preserved in a Time book to be kept in the marshal's office. Ord for election of school trustees Alderman Moore introduced an ordinance providing for an election, on Tuesday, July 2, 1880 for school trustees of the public free schools of the City of Austin. The motion to lay the resolution on the Table was adopted. --- Page break --- 188 July 6th 1885 Alderman Hill introduced the following resolution Resolution which was referred to the street Committee To extend route Be it resolved by the City Council, that, scavenger carts. the street committee be requested to report what additional expense would be required to provide for an extension of the routes of the public scavenger carts of the City throughout the more dense parts of the City, together with its recommendations as to whether such extension is advisable, $2,814.36 The Finance committee introduced an account Ordinance appropriating the sum of $2,814.36 for payroll for July payment of City officers salaries for July, 1885 and approved accounts. The ordinance was read second and third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote: Yeas— Aldermen Metz, Hancock, Dillon, Wells, Campbell, Weber, Warren, Crooker, Eads, Hill, Plush, Bruck & Brenner, Mayor, Alderman Schneider. On motion the council adjourned,